Skip to main content
FamilyEducation
FamilyEducation
Family Education

FE-Menu

  • Pregnancy
    • <blank>
      • Pregnancy Tracker
      • Trying to Conceive
      • Signs & Symptoms
      • Pregnancy Health
    • <blank>
      • Baby Names
      • High Risk Pregnancies
      • Preparing for Baby
    • <blank>
      • Concerns & Complications
      • Labor & Delivery
      • Postpartum
  • Baby Names
    • <blank>
      • Browse All Baby Names (A-Z)
      • Top Names for Boys
      • Top Names for Girls
      • Baby Name Generator
    • <blank>
      • Baby Name Lists & Ideas
      • First Names By Origin
      • Browse All Last Names (A-Z)
      • Last Names by Origin
  • Babies
    • <blank>
      • Caring For Your Baby
      • Baby's Health
      • Feeding Your Baby
    • <blank>
      • Your Baby and Sleep
      • Baby's Growth & Development
      • Baby Hygiene
    • <blank>
      • Baby Safety
      • Baby Products
    • <blank>
  • Toddlers
    • <blank>
      • Toddler Growth and Development
    • <blank>
      • Toddler Behavior and Discipline
    • <blank>
      • Your Toddler and Sleep
  • Kids
    • <blank>
      • Health
      • Childhood Development
      • Fitness & Nutrition
      • Childhood Safety
    • <blank>
      • Communicating with Your Kids
      • Childhood Behavior and Discipline
      • Fostering Responsibility
      • Instilling Values & Manners
    • <blank>
      • Childcare
      • Neurodiversity in Kids
      • Adopting Children
  • Teens
    • <blank>
      • Teen Health
      • Teen Puberty & Sex
    • <blank>
      • Behavior & Discipline
      • Teen Social Development
    • <blank>
      • Values & Responsibilities
  • Activities
    • <blank>
      • Printables
      • Indoor Activities
      • Learning Activities
      • Arts and Crafts
      • Performing Arts
      • Food Activities
      • Outdoor Activities
    • <blank>
      • Books
      • TV
      • Movies
      • Online
      • Quizzes
      • Games
      • Celebrities
    • <blank>
      • Parties
      • Travel
      • Toys
      • Holidays
      • Gifts
  • Learning
    • <blank>
      • By Grade
      • By Subject
      • College
      • Preschool
    • <blank>
      • Back to School
      • Study Skills
      • Learning Styles
    • <blank>
      • Homeschooling
      • Parental Involvement
      • Your Child's School
  • Family Life
    • <blank>
      • Mom Life
      • Dad Life
      • Family Relationships
      • Having a Healthy Marriage
      • Divorce
    • <blank>
      • Health & Fitness
      • COVID Resources
      • Managing Your Home
      • Moving Your Family
      • Pets
    • <blank>
      • Family Finances
      • Work
      • Families and Food
  • NewslettersNewsletters
    Newsletters

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Family Life
  3. Work
  4. Talking About Volunteering

Talking About Volunteering

Talk with your child about volunteering.
Carleton Kendrick headshot
Carleton Kendrick
Updated: December 1, 2022
  • facebook share icon
  • pin
  • twitter share icon
  • email share icon
  • Print page icon

Talking About Volunteering

ON THE MENU: Talking About Volunteering

FOR AGES: Five and up

There's no doubt about it -- it feels good to give! A recent landmark psychological study shows that people feel the best about themselves and about life when they're giving to others.

When we encourage kids to volunteer their time and energy, we're helping them develop feelings of self-worth. This is a critical component of their moral development.

The Words: How do you help other people? How does helping them make you feel?

The Reason: When your children recall the times that they've helped others -- aided a family member, participated in a community service project, tutored a younger student -- they access feelings of caring and self-worth.

You also might share your own fond memories of giving. These emotional recollections will set the tone for discussing how to do more for others.

The Words: If you could create your own charitable organization, what would be its mission?

The Reason: What tugs at your kids' hearts the most -- hunger, education, the environment, disease? This question asks them to prioritize their concerns. You could then discuss how your children's charity would carry out its mission. What would its volunteers do? This exchange could lead all of you to search out existing organizations that already address your kids' concerns.

The Words: How could we volunteer to help as a family?

The Reason: A continuing family commitment to volunteering makes the value of giving to others come alive. Even preschoolers can accompany a parent delivering "Meals on Wheels" to the elderly and infirm in their community.

In my town, elementary-school kids work alongside their parents to stock food pantry shelves. And entire families help build community playgrounds, erect low-income housing, and run clothing drives for homeless shelters. Working as a family unit to improve others' lives is an uplifting testament to family spirit and dedication.

CONVERSATION TIPS
Remember to make specific reference to some of your children's past acts of kindness and compassion. Observe that their service to others is a natural outgrowth of who they are -- action-oriented kids with generous hearts. Use this discussion to express your own interest in helping others on a regular basis, even if you're not currently volunteering.

BEYOND THE RAP
After dinner, look up charitable organizations in the yellow pages. You'll get additional ideas for volunteer service by logging on to two of the bigger national volunteer websites: Volunteer Match and the National Youth Service. Checking out your own area's community projects can provide more concrete volunteering examples for your kids.

Schedule a family meeting in another week to discuss your family's volunteer action plan. Talk about your volunteer opportunity research and your personal/family intentions.

Carleton Kendrick headshot
About the author
Carleton Kendrick

Carleton Kendrick is the coauthor of Take Your Nose Ring Out, Honey, We're Going to Grandma's.

View more articles from this author

What's hot

  • Eye color genetic chart Family LifeWhat Color Will My Baby'…
  • 10 Signs of Divorce Family Life10 Signs Your Marriage is Over
  • woman standing on scale Family LifeWhat's a Normal BMI for…
  • Young girl eating a oatmeal with berries after a workout Family LifeCalorie Intake for Weight…
NewslettersNewsletters
Your partner in parenting from baby name inspiration to college planning.
Family Education
FamilyEducation does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Information on our advertising guidelines can be found here.

FE Footer

  • Newsletter Center
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Policy
  • Editorial Team
  • Expert Panel
  • Cookie Policy
  • Site Map
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info (for CA Residents)
sandbox learning logo
Family Education is part of the Sandbox Learning family of educational reference sites for parents, teachers, and students. 

factmonster logoinfoplease logoTeacherVision logo

sandbbox logo
©2022 Sandbox Networks Inc. All rights reserved. Sandbox Learning is part of Sandbox & Co., a digital learning company.